Clyde Lyndon King, in his doctoral thesis writes "The plan gave the maximum of opportunity for [political] party groups and corporate control."

The municipal board members appointed by the governor had complete financial control over the police, fire, and excise departments.

Resentment began to grow as the city took actions which favorably impacted Denver Tramway but received no financial compensation in return.

Denver Union Water promised to abide by all previous charters and a new city council was elected that was evenly divided between the two options.

King notes, "In the [1899 mayoral] campaign certain members of the Democratic party, motivated and financed by the city's public service corporations, organized the 'big mitt,' the famous ballot-box stuffing brigade.

McMurray lost the election and his successor, Henry V. Johnson, who had agreed on the campaign trail about divorcing the city's government and corporations, accepted Denver Tramway's revised one-time payment of $72,000.