| MOVING MOUNTAINS How one Woman and her Community Won Justice from Big Coal Penny Loeb The University Press of Kentucky, September 2007 |
Rating: 5.0 High |
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| ISBN-13 978-0-8131-2441-4 | ||||
| ISBN-10 0-8131-2441-7 | 306pp. | HC/BWI | $27.95 | |
This is a well-told but complicated story that covers the lives of many people for a considerable period of time. It concerns the governance of West Virginia — a governance most often dominated by coal interests. At the same time, it is a story of hard-won progress — gradual improvements in mine safety and in measures to prevent the dust, the clean-water loss, the ground tremors and slurry floods that frequently afflict the people who live near coal mines. This passage is a reasonably apt summary of the situation.
During the late 1960s and early 1970s. the spirit of revolution of the civil rights and antiwar movements touched the legislature, which set about reforming itself. "What happened for the first time in memory," Bobby Nelson of Huntington recalled thirty years later, "was that people began to emerge in this state who had a commitment to retake the state and change the political atmosphere to make it responsive to the people who live there." In 1968 the legislature passed a groundbreaking law on black-lung benefits, which became the model for a later federal law. At the same time, a citizens' commission report led to sweeping reforms, including opening committee meetings to the public. Just as it peaked, the reformist energy began to wane, as did the energy of youthful activists across the country. By the time Jay Rockefeller was elected governor in 1976, he had become a bit more conservative. Gaston Caperton, a moderate Democrat, served two terms, beginning in 1988, and focused on education and economic development. For the first time, business leaders united with the coal industry and persuaded the legislature to weaken worker's compensation benefits, thus cutting support of disabled miners. In 1996 conservative Democrats and business and coal interests helped elect Republican Cecil Underwood, once the state's youngest governor in 1957, as its oldest. The tilt to the right increased when conservative Democrat Bob Kiss became Speaker of the House in 1997. Thus, WVOP members were entering an architectural jewel designed with high aspirations but peopled with lawmakers who often regarded reform as an unwanted intruder. – Pages 77-78 |
The author documents these ebbs and flows of reform very diligently. The result is a sometimes grim but overall encouraging account, reflecting the growing awareness that coal can be profitably recovered without heedlessly despoiling the places where it is found. Many players figure into the narrative, making it difficult to follow. This is partly alleviated by a roster of recurring individuals and organizations. A map of the Southern West Virginia Coalfields is also provided, helping the reader put place names into perspective. However, I can recommend this book only for those interested in a deep dive into the history of West Virginia. For reference, the names that stick in my mind are Patricia (Trish) Bragg, Blair Gardner, Charles H. Haden II, Arley Johnson, Joe Lovett, and James Weekley.1, 2
Fifty eight black&white pictures of people and places supplement the text. A Bibliography divided by type of source contains 141 entries. There is an excellent index. I'll give the book top marks, but as I say I recommend it only for those with a deep interest in West Virginia political history.
To contact Chris Winter, send email to this address.