The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-01-13
Asks Grangers To Aid In Enforcement Of Prohibition Frank Blakeman Master of State Grange Spoke Today at Thirty fifth Annual Session of That
 Organization


 peal to every Granger to aid the Fed eral Government in it's enforcement of the prohbitorw amendment was made by Frank E. Brakeman of Strat- ford today in his annual address to the State Grange which began its 35th an- nual session. He also called for enact ment of laws which will protect far mers against the evil of robbery of crops, and asked the Grange to take a definite stand on Daylight Saving as 0 matter of legislation.
 The grange session in Foot Guard Hall opened with the conferring of the Fifth Degree upon candidates, the routine organization for business, re- ception of resolutions and reports, and at the afternoon session the reviews of the year by the Grange officers.
 Master Blakeman said that the year had been a successful one, although it had not been "a11 sunshine,' the high cost of living having invaded the expense account of the Gran~e as it had private affairs. The treas urer's report showed decreased bal ance attributable to this condition. Money had been judiciously expend- ed, however. Three charters had been returned due to conditions, and several granges need careful nurs- ing.
 Master Blalzeman said on the sub ject of prohibition: "Our Connec- ticut Senate voted to place the dis grace of refusing to ratify the prohibi- tion amendment on the state, a1- though forty-five states and Congress and the highest courts in our nation have sustained every measure for its adoption and enforcement. For tunately our delegation in Congress and those senators who refused to accede to a demand for a higher and better civilization are not permitted to deprive our state of the advan- tages of a saloonless nation in 1920.
 Therefore, it becomes the duty of every patron to use his utmost en- deavor to aid the federal government in the enforcement of the law. The rapid growth of our cities in recent years, populated very largely by peo- pie of foreign birth and foreign Ideals, has carried the sentiment or our state far from its reputation of being "the land of steady habits" There fore, 1t behooves every home-lovlng patron to stand firm for these pr1nc1- pies of integrity and sobriety upon which the solid foundations Of our state government were laid.
 Master Blakeman said that early in the year a request WdS SehI oA1 II oAAA the Masters office for an expression regarding the daylight saving law and nearly every Granger voted e1n- phaticalIy in favor of its repeal. This session, he said, should take some clear action which will express the | policy of the Grange in a clear ana ! unmistakab1e manner.
 One of the problems which con- front the farmer, Master Blakernan said was that of protecting his crops from thieves After successfully combating drouth, storms, winds, hail, blight, bugs, caterp1uars and fungus" said MT. Blakeman, the worst rodents of all are the city thieves They descend upon our crops just before maturity and. in the cunning of their maliciousness and destruction exceed all others. Our Experiment Station, or our Agrt- cultural College, has not devised a 1 practical method of exterminating them This is a rapidly growing evil, 1 and while the last General Assembly l provided a law with a very severe penalty it does not abate the nu1s- ance. The farmer must be watchful of suspicious persons and be willing { to appear as witnesses in court when ever they are in possession of ev1- l dence which might lead to convic- ton. It would be well if this session could formulate 8 plan, which oul legislative committee could urge be- fore the next legislature as a possi ble remedy"
 Highways.
 MT. Blakeman in referring to high