According to our law, all persons who are born within the boundaries of the United States are American citizens. The nationality of the parents makes no difference whatever, nor does it signify whether the father was a citizen or not. The mere fact of being born in this country is sufficient to make a man an American citizen. The United States claims him, and protects him if he needs protection. When young Mayer's parents went hack to Germany they educated their boy in German schools, and he grew up as a German boy. When he came to be twenty-one years of age he was ordered to serve his time in the German army. He refused to do this, on the ground that he was an American citizen. He was nevertheless claimed by the authorities and forced to join the army. In Germany there is a law, that every young man who reaches the age of twenty-one must go into the army and serve as a soldier for two years. The very day the young Germans come of age they are bound to offer themselves for military service. In many of the towns, advertisements are put in the newspapers giving the names of the lads who are nearing the age of twenty-one, and telling them where to report for duty. In other places the military authorities send each young man an order to report for duty on the morning of his birthday. There is no avoiding this service, which was formerly for three years, but has been changed to two. The young men who do not answer the call are searched for, and, when found, slightly punished. Lads who are in foreign countries are ordered home. If they do not report for military service within a certain space of time, they are punished with an extra year of service. When young Mayer was forced to join the German army, he appealed to the American Government to help him. When the matter was brought to their attention, the German authorities denied the right of the United States to interfere, saying that Mayer was the son of a German subject, and therefore was a German citizen. This Government has, however, made a formal demand for the release of Mayer, and there is little doubt that the request will be complied with. * * * * * The trouble is not yet over for the trusts. You remember about the Investigating Committee appointed to look into the affairs of the different trusts. The members of this committee had a good deal of trouble with the Sugar Trust. Seven of the most important persons connected with the trust refused to answer the questions asked them by the committee. Among these men were such prominent persons as Henry O. Havemeyer and John E. Searles, men who are known as Sugar Kings. The impossibility of getting any information from these witnesses made the work of the committee very difficult; and when the investigations were over, complaints were made against the men who had given the trouble.