Letter from Paul R. Gaston to Mel Close (Carson City, Nev.), February 16, 1968

1 Y i) 0 ' XJ J February l6, 1968 The Honorable Mel Close Assembly Speaker Carson City? Nevada Dear Mr. Closes , I write this letter in strong support of Flora Dun gars and her insistence that a bona fide investigation be made of the Nevada prison system. She has had the courage to push hard enough and long enough until it has begun to be embarrassing for seme. Good I am a lifelong Republicans and have been an enthusiastic supporter of the Governor. I had no idea at all whether there was any truth to early charges about brutality at the prison. Rut the Governor?s response made me very suspicious. He announces to the press that conditions are a hundred per cent O.K. and there are no problems. Now? no prism is that good. Then he proceeds to have that mock investigation which was a one hour and a half walk through some of the facilities by untrained people who wouldn?t know whether conditions were good or bad unless a riot would break out while they were there. 'Rveni they were kapt from the area where the real problems are confined. Then the letter to the warden to keep Miss Dungan out. Never once has he moved positively to have trained, competent people check the matter out. Why? Censure thi3 brave lady because she has put her finger on a sore spot that needs sane professional attention? Let?s give her a medal, and censure those who close their eyes and ears because it is politically expedient. for hert Sincerely, Paul R. Gaston