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Show THE KEIFER INTERVIEW. On June 20th The Tribune printed, from copy turned in by ono of its regular reporters, an interview with the Hon. J. Warren Kcifer, a "Representative "Repre-sentative in Congress from Ohio. In the course of this interview Mr. TCoi-fcr TCoi-fcr was represented as condemning the Senate for Beating Senator Smoot, and as saying that ho thought "the Sena-' tors who exposed the cause of Mormon-ism Mormon-ism to that extent made a mistake." Wo note in the Smoot organ in this cit' what purports to be a Jotter from Mr. Keifcr repudiating the expressions expres-sions attributed to him in The Trib-nnc Trib-nnc interviow, and stating his belief that the Senate's decision was right. On the other hand, The Tribune re porter who had the interviow with Mr. Keif or affirms in the most positive posi-tive manner that he quoted him accurately; ac-curately; and whilo it was not a matter mat-ter of stenography, he is an experienced, experi-enced, truthful man, who knows woll the importance of accuracy and faithfulness. faith-fulness. We believe fully that he reported re-ported Mr. Kief or ' accurately, despite Mr. Keifer's letter of denial. Further, the same reporter saw Mr. Keifer off on the train the samo day that this interview was printodi and asked him as to how it suited him. Mr. Keifer said that it was all right, save as to any impression which might be derived from it that he had denied de-nied the legal right of the Scnnto to oust Smoot. He did not deny this, of course; nor was he reported as denying it. But his objection to Smoot, he said, was put on a higher ground; his association with and support of polyg-amists polyg-amists and the un-Amorican S3'slem with which he is so inseparably connected, con-nected, and of whfch ho is .a part. And as lo what any.bodj'- thought of his opinion as expressed, he said, ho "didn't give a d n." We arc justified fully, fhcrofore, in believing that tho interview in The Tribune was an accurate report of what Mr. Keifer actually said. And ho reaffirmed and approved it t.he next day. as he was leaving towu. T.t seems to bo a case, tho like of which is all too common among politicians, of the double faco; caused usually by fear of the effect of what has been said, when tho words are seen in cold, print. But he could not deny the 'facts to The Tribune reporter lo whom he had talked. It is not possible that The Tribuno could have printed with design, any false report about Mr. Keifer. The interview was handed in in the usual way, a part of the night's gleanings, and was printed as turned in. Fair, honest, truthful reports are enjoined upon every one in The Tribune's employ, em-ploy, whether reporters or correspondent; correspon-dent; thero is no such thing as color or bias in reporting facts, news, or I conversations. The only possible desire is to have them written and printed precisely as they occur. That is and al-wa3's al-wa3's has been The Tribune's aim and effort and it is a rule that cannot be departed from. |