B. L. Dotson-Lewis
Nicholas County Schools
400 Old Main Drive
Summersville, West Virginia  26651   posted on March 1, 2004

Final installment - oral history interview with Dr. Donald Rasmussen

Miners for Democracy was formed as a fusion of the Black Lung Association and the remains of the people who worked for Yablonski who had strong support around southwest Pennsylvania and adjacent Ohio and northern West Virginia.   He had support through the Union, at least in most all the districts.  After Yablonski’s death in January, 1970, his sons, Chip and Ken and people like Mike Trbovich, along with a group of others close to Yablonski, including Arnold Miller, President of the Black Lung Association,  joined in this close alliance, Miners for Democracy.  The idea was to get moving on having the Justice and Labor Department look into that election of December, 1969.

Eventually, that election was found to be fraudulent.

At any rate we had meetings.  Mostly we would meet in St. Claireville, Ohio, a central location and easy to get to.  We would plan various strategies.

Our feelings were that Yablonski had enough support to have won that election.  On the other hand, a lot of people were not Yablonski supporters, but when he was murdered that changed their idea about Tony Boyle - a lot of good union people were fearful of ousting Boyle.  They thought this would harm the United Mine Workers and they were always loyal to the UMWA.

Miners for Democracy held a convention in Wheeling to select a slate for running for office.   Personally, I felt the non-miners should not participate in that.  I felt that should not be their business but everyone, who attended the convention, got involved, except me.  I did not attend.  They selected Arnold Miller to be President and Mike Trbovich to be Vice-President.  

They traveled around and spoke at rallies all over the country.  I don't know if they got way out west or not but they campaigned.  It looked like they had good strong support.  One of the provisions  made when they threw out the original 1969 election was that they would have observers at all the polling places to make sure they was no fraud.  They had the election and the Miller slate won.

Arnold was one of the movers and shakers in the strategies in the Black Lung Association in West Virginia lobbying for changes in the West Virginia law. 

He wasn't one of the actual initial organizers but shortly after that he was elected President of the Black Lung Association.  He worked night and day getting things  organized. 

Arnold was one of the movers - when Yablonski ran for President, Arnold was one of his chief guys.  I knew him then.  We traveled together a lot.  Yes, he was a personal friend.  As I had done for Yablonski, I campaigned with the Miller people at various rallies.  When they held the election, there was a good solid win for the Miller team.  There is no longer a need for Miners for Democracy.  After Miller went in, there were still people loyal to Boyle.  There was tension and friction there. 

 Today the Union is just solid.  There is no vestige of any split shape or form.  The current leadership I think doesn't want to revisit the old subject.

 Cecil Roberts is an absolutely great guy and dynamic leader.  I have spent quite a bit of time with Cecil Roberts.  I have introduced him at Black Lung conferences.

 I have seen him several times.  They give strong support to each other.  In fact Cecil came down to a regional meeting at Twins Park and gave me a certificate as an Honorary Member of the United Mine Workers.  I think Cecil Roberts is probably the best United Mine Workers President since John L. Lewis, even though Arnold Miller was a good friend.

 After Miller was elected I didn't feel comfortable being involved in Union  politics.  I stayed out.  I could see some of the strain on Arnold.  Another personal friend was Levi Daniel, absolutely strong supporter of Arnold's.  He told me a lot of things Arnold was concerned about.

 Arnold had a lot of problems.  He suddenly felt he was not educated enough to run the Union.  He relied on some of the college people who were non miners and they tended to isolate Arnold from the coal miners.

 Arnold had excellent rapport with the miners and they tended to feel he was the one who should have been running the Union.  They felt Arnold was smart enough to do the job because he had the right instincts and his own personal history of coal mining.  That is story you would have been glad to get, Arnold Miller’s story.    He was in the Normandy Invasion and got shot in the face.  He was left to die by his captain who took off running and left him behind to die.  His buddy came back and got him.   He had multiple scars where he was shot.

 Arnold worked in the mines 30 years or so and got involved in the black lung movement.  Arnold and I traveled together.  He came to my house.  He stayed at my house.  He was a good guy but he had some problems.  He was not an exceptionally good United Mine Workers President but he certainly kept his promise of letting all the districts have their own elections.  He totally democratized the districts.  Up until that time most of the districts were controlled by Tony Boyle.  Arnold certainly got democracy restored to that the Union and the local union meetings were always democratic meetings with some of the guys serving as the local officers – they were good guys.  It was good to see they were accountable to their membership.

 There were some interesting experiences when the district officers were appointed.  Often conflict there.  District officers, before Arnold Miller owed their loyalty to Tony Boyle and the District leader he had appointed.

 Right now I believe the Union is running very smoothly.  As far as the policy aspects, I believe it is clinging by its fingernails.  If it goes under, it will be a terrible tragedy. 

 Health and safety were Cecil Robert’s main concern.  That was his main concern for the membership.   As a matter of fact, what Cecil Roberts did was, develop  and encourage the Black Lung Association and the United Miners Workers to get together because they had been  on opposite sides.  Cecil brought the Black Lung Association, the National Coal Miners’ Clinics and the UMWA together.  Representatives from each organization came together here in Beckley.  He wanted his district officers to be aware of the black lung problems, the issues; both the medical and legal aspects.  He was very active in the black lung movement.   He was just a strong union guy.  I guess all his people (family from years back were union people from Cabin Creek).  He would have been someone you would find interesting to talk to.  He spent time in jail for being out on the picket line.

 Oral history interviewed continued -Dr. Donald Rasmussen at his clinic on July 11, 2003 

 Tell me about black lung – compare earlier years to today for me?

 At present, perhaps 8% of miners applying for black lung benefits meet the medical requirements for disability.  However, only about half receive benefits because of the coal companies being able to have the patient re-examined one or more times, have his records reviewed by numerous experts, etc.

 The problem of overwhelming number of reports existed until the regulations were put together at the end of the Clinton Administration and finally upheld by the courts. 

 The results of claims for Black Lung compensation depends an awfully lot on the legal representative.  If you don’t have representation that is very experienced in this area, you are taking a very big chance.  It is a like a morass.  You have to be very careful about it.

Tell me about the advocacy program at Washington & Lee University.  How did that start?

 I am not exactly sure how Washington & Lee University came to be doing this.   I guess they had to have some type of clinic in their law school.  I am not sure if it was for underprivileged or not, but they got interested in the black lung business.  They connected up with New River Health Clinic.  They actually work through the clinic and John Cline who lives in Piney View -- he is doing black lung cases.    He finished law school.  He was the one who got it all organized.  They have done a good job taking on lost cases where the evidence is not that strong but the miners have had impairment and were able to prove what it was for.  They have done a good job.

 Mary Natkin, is one of the professors at Washington and Lee University.  Her  boss is in charge of the program.  He is very supportive.  They have been down here at this clinic to look at various things.  We had a conference and they came down here. Occasionally, they will send down medical records to be reviewed.  They do a very good job.

 Do you have any closing comments at the close of this most interesting oral history interview?

 It has been fascinating looking back over things.   I am proud of getting the Federal Coal Miners Health and Safety Act passed.  That was done with all expenses out of my own pockets which I don't regret.  Had it not been for Ken Hechler at least it would not have passed with the dust control clause.  Had it not been for the Congressman from San Francisco, Phillip Burton, the compensation clause would not have passed.   Burton told them he would not support the Bill unless that was included because so many had been left behind by the workers compensation the statute of limitation had expired.  Because of that, many of these people got benefits which were a God send.

 The part I am really proud of is the dust control clause.  That has and can prevent lung disease.  It sure has done a good job in controlling dust.  The problem now  is,  the small mine operations  do not  have as much economically as the big coal operator.  The small mines have to cut all corners to survive.

 I am also glad for having participated in the Yablonski and Miller campaigns because the Union did need changes.

 I would like to ask you one more question – in doing research I read about an organization called, “Physicians for Miners” – will you tell me something about that group?

 In the fall of 1968 coal miners held meetings and invited Dr. I. E. Buff to speak.  Dr. Buff had, for several months been publicly talking about Black Lung, later a group of miners asked me to participate.  After the explosion in Mannington, Hawey Wells, a Pathologist, who had worked with me in the Public Health Service, joined us.  Dr. Wells probably thought up the title “Physicians Committee for Miners’ Health and Safety.”

 We were supposed to represent a larger body of physicians, however, we three were the total membership.  My wife at the time was supposed to be the press secretary – she was working with a number of people including Brit Hume, now of Fox News.  Dr. Buff, however, used to ignore that channel and make his own news release!

 The three of us went to many, many rallies throughout the state and once in Pennsylvania.  Dr. Buff was the big entertainer bringing props, black and white helmets, etc.  Wells was also a performer – crushing dried lung tissue, etc.  I was last and tried to be objective, but was mostly boring.

 Anyway the group worked together until the Yablonski Campaign started – Wells and I endorsed Yablonski – Buff did not – that was the end of the committee.

 End of interview.