TO THE EDITOR:

Lynn Smallwood's letter (Gazette, Feb. 25) about the proposed (now failed) "Wright Patman Regional Water Supply Agency" said it all, with one exception -- the misuse of the late Wright Patman's name.

Surely its unauthorized use misled some of the public to think that either (1) it must be a good deal if his name was on it and/or (2) believe it had something to do with Lake Wright Patman, even though this was never mentioned in the resolution.

The misappropriation of this popular congressman's name, in effect, used a good man's good name to promote a furtive maneuver that none of its promoters would explain. "Gag rule!" was the only excuse given for refusing to say what it was all about. That's not good enough. To appropriate a person's name is a serious matter and even more so when its use is under a cloud, as in this case.

Wright Patman fought for transparency in government during his long tenure in Congress representing Northeast Texas. He held hearings to illuminate the back-door dealings of corporations and individuals.

History. He also was the one who first blew the whistle on the Watergate scandal -- the secret conspiracy that, once uncovered, led to Richard Nixon's downfall.

This ill-conceived water scheme is something the likes of Wright Patman would investigate, not condone.