United labor bulletin., 1914-09-19
Investigators Fail to Find
Basis for Charges
Animus Behind Sensational News
paper Stories Is Attemptto Over
throw Commission Plan

After a force of accountants from
State Auditor kenehan's office have
pored over the mountain park accounts
fer nine days, not a single discrepancy
upon which to base foundation for nu-
merous sensational stories about Com
missioner of Property Otto F. Thum.
published in the Post, News and Times,
has been uncovered. In fact, when the
report is made it will prove COM
plete vindication of the commissioner
and his plan of work, as predicted in
last weeks issue of The Bulletin. There
fore the scheme of some designing MEM
Der of the Chamber of Commerce, Real
Estate Exchange, disappointed politi-
clans and the newspapers to discredit
Thum before the public is sure to fall
flat In fact, little attention is now
being paid to the matter, as confidence
in the well established integrity of Otto
F, Thum diseredits the vicious attack
being made upon him.
This week typographical map Of the
entire mountain road from Golden to
Genesee was furnished State Auditor
kenehan accompanied by deeds for
every foot OF the right of way. This
is the main point of criticism made hy.
those who have gone out after the coni-
missioner's scalp. And it might be
noted in passing it was because the
real estate exploiters were unable to
handle options on this right of way
that their wrath was engendered-
Post Wants Its Graft.
Perhaps another main reason for the
newspaper articles besmirching Thum's
character and lambasting his way of
doing business was that an Illegal bill
of 5000 for overcharge in legal ad-
vertising BIZ the Post did not receive
Commissioner Thums approval Brer
Tammen naturally got very mad when
he failed to graft this neat sum from
the city treasury.
When City Auditor Markey, sent to
the city council resolution asking for
an appropriation of 81, 900 to investigate
Commissioner Thum's mountain park ac-
count. neither of the commissioners
would father the request. 1t was then
that the commissioner of property re-
quested State Auditor Roady Kenehan
to undertake the checkup, now in pro-
cess. which is in fact an investigation
of the city auditors accounts. for
through his hands pass all the city's
fiscal business Kenehan was justified
in aeceding to Thum's request, because
the state is a party to the mountain
park Improvement and furnishes por-
ton of the money expended for this
purpose
When the mountain parks proposition
was first under discussion a party of
public spirited citizens formed the
mountain parks commission, and it was
largely through their work that suffi-
cient interest was created to make the
parks reality. Desiring their coop
Grafton. Commissioner Thum this week
addressed Chairman Warwick Downing
the following letter:
Dear Sir: The working force OF the
mountain parks branch of the depart
ment has been reorganized for more ef-
ficient work in the future. I have all
ways considered your commission one
of the great factors in this magnificent
and important public undertaking. I
write to suggest that you call your
commission together at once to discuss
our future work on some basis of ad-
visory activity with this department
We need your help and. in addition, we
must have the confidence of every loyal
citizen in the future development of the
mountain park SYSTEM
At last sundays meeting of the Den.
yer Trades and Labor Assembly a reso-
luton was unanimously adopted ex-
pressing full confidence of organizer la
Dor in Commissioner Thum
This fight is only repetition of those
made upon the other city commission
ers from time to time since they went
into office. and is aided and encouraged
by all those who hope to overthrow the
present form of city government.