The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-06-04
BILLINGS BUT HE'S
STRANGER, IN HOME TOWN
BY DON p. DROHAN.-
NEA Service Writer.

Silver Creek, N Y, June 4.-John
w. Slack started out as q - q week
Office boy
Now he talks in billions.
His bid Of $1.O5l. 100000 for all the
shipping boards vessels startled the
whole country. But it created more
excitement than a cyclone right here
in his home town.
For Silver Creek, with it's $500
souls, doesn't know Slack.
True, most folks recognize him and
pass the time Of day when they meet
him on the street. Others, there
are. who can scarcely tell you where
he lives.
Substantial Citizen.
"Oh, yes, he's a substantial citi-
zen," some of the older business
men will inform you. mice fellow.
but rather quiet.
"He's been here eight years now,
but we don't know any more about
him than we did the first week. He's
pres dent of the. Columbia Postal
Supply company, and makes some sort
of stamp canceling machines for the
government.
See that little one-story yellow
brick building down the street. Well
that's his Office
And they point to tiny factory,
just half block from the park, or
square.
A clerk in drug store directed me
to Slack's home. It's modest,
though substantial, frame dwelling
out on Central avenue, "last house
before you come to the railroad
tracks"
Puts Town on Map.
Slack's daughter, Ethel, 90, came
to the door.
Dads out riding" she anpounced.
"But he'll be coming in soon.H
An hour later the writer returned
and found Slack just climbing into
one Of his Packards. Gle has two.
"Going down to the Office for a
little bit," he explained. Jump in."
"Pretty nice town, you have here,
Mr.. Slack"
"Yep, fine little place. "Away from
the noise and city.
Looks like we've put it on the
map. You know I'm on the Cham
ber Of Commerce publicity commit
tee"
Bot He Won't Tell.
SNOW, Mr.. Slack, a billion dollars
is lot of money. Where you going
to get that much?
swell, son, l can't tell you now.
When Laskcr says the word go, III
be only too glad to let the country in
on the secret"
And what are you going to do
with all those boats ?"
"Well, we'll keep them running.
We can't mess things up any more
that the government has done.
That's about all can say about our
plans just now.
"Lasker is reported as saying the
ships aren't worth what we're bid
ing. But, you see, we don't want to
sting them"
He's Only IS.
The car had reached the office.
Inside, Slack fumbled through per-
sonal mail, as the interviewer de.
termined whether he smoked, played
golf intended to remain in Silver
Creek. and how much he slept.
He said he didn't smoke, didn't
play golf, slept plenty and would re-
tain his home here.
Slack gave his banking connec-
tions as the First National Bank of
Silver Creek and the Silver Creek
National Bank. He wouldn't say how
much his checking account totaled.
He invited the interviewer to have
dinner with him. Then he proposed
a drive to Forestdale, five miles from
here. But both invitations had to
be declined on account OF catching a
train.
Slack is 45. He did confidential
work for the government Ia years,
beginning during the Roosevelt ad-
The shipping board is taking him
up in earnest. A meeting between
him and its representatives has been
arranged.
Towpsfolk vision Silver Creek as
the shipping center of the world.