John W. Slayton

John Slayton was one of the Socialist Party of America's prominent faces in the decade of the 1910s. John W. Slayton (1863–1935) was an American socialist lecturer and politician. He is best remembered as one of the Socialist Party of America's leading propagandists in the Eastern United States during the decade of the 1910s.

Biography

Early years

John W. Slayton was born in January 1863 in Virginia. He was unable to read until the age of 13 and attended a total of only 15 months of school in a rural log school house. Instead, Slayton developed himself through self-education, studying in his spare time.

Slayton moved to New Castle, Pennsylvania, in 1900, where he served for a time as the business agent of the local Building Trades unions.

In 1905, Slayton served as campaign manager for Walter Tyler in his race for Mayor of New Castle. Tyler won the contest, making New Castle the first town in Pennsylvania to have a Socialist at the head of its civic administration.

Slayton was a delegate to the National Convention of the Socialist Party held in Chicago in May 1908. He was also elected a delegate from Pennsylvania to the so-called "National Congress" of the Socialist Party held in May 1910.

Slayton helped finance his two speaking tours of America with the sale of self-published pamphlets. In the fall of 1910, Slayton stood as the candidate of the Socialist Party for Governor of Pennsylvania. Slayton received over 9,600 votes in the race, good enough for a third-place finish in Allegany County, although well behind the 48,000 garnered by the winning candidate, Republican John K. Tener. However, due to the fact that the Democratic vote was split between a "Keystone Reform" candidate and the candidate of the regular Democratic Party, the Democrats finished fourth in Allegany County.

Slayton ran for Congress a second time in 1924 in the state's 35th District. Two years later, he made a second attempt at becoming Pennsylvania's Governor.

Despite his various political candidacies, Slayton is best remembered as having been one of the Socialist Party's team of professional touring agitators — individuals who would be booked through the National Office of the SPA to deliver speeches or engage in public debates. During the course of his career as a public speaker, Slayton toured the breadth of the United States twice, speaking in 46 of the 48 states and defending the Socialist position in 132 debates.

Death and legacy Slayton died on June 5, 1935, in Pittsburgh, at the age of 72. He was remembered at the time of his death for being "nationally known as an impressive and eloquent speaker." He was survived by his wife, four daughters, and a son.

Footnotes

Works Criminology, Crimes and Criminals. Reading, PA: John W. Slayton, 1910. Props to Capitalism. Allegheny, PA: John W. Slayton, n.d. . The United States Constitution: A "Class" Document. McKeesport, PA: John W. Slayton. Socialism: The Old Red Flag of Peace, Industry, and Universal Brotherhood. Pittsburgh, PA: John W. Slayton, 1919.