In High Places Read Online Free Page B
Author: Arthur Hailey
Chinaman running Government House.'
This time there were several comments of disapproval from the other guests to whom Warrender's voice had become increasingly audible. Moreover the Governor General had quite plainly heard the last remark and the Prime Minister saw him beckon an aide. Harvey Warrender's wife, a pale, fragile woman, had moved uncertainly towards her husband and taken his arm. But he ignored her.
Dr Borden Tayne, the Health and Welfare Minister and a former college boxing champion who towered above them all, said in a stage whisper, 'For Christ's sake, knock it off!' He had joined Cawston at Warrender's side. A voice murmured urgently, 'Get him out of here!' Another answered, 'He can't go. Nobody can leave until the Governor General does.' Unabashed, Harvey Warrender was continuing. 'When you're talking about immigration,' he declared loudly, 'I tell you the public wants sentiment, not facts. Facts are uncomfortable. People like to think of their country as holding the door open for the poor and suffering. It makes them feel noble. Only thing is, they'd just as soon the poor and suffering keep well out of sight when they get here, and not track lice in the suburbs or muddy up the prissy new churches. No siree, the public in this country doesn't want wide-open immigration. What's more, it knows the Government will never allow it, so there's no real risk in hollering for it. That way, everybody can be righteous and safe at the same time.' . In a separate compartment of his mind the Prime Minister acknowledged that everything Harvey had said made sound sense but impractical politics.
'What started all this?' one of the women asked.
Harvey Warrender heard the remark and answered. 'It started because I was told to change the way I'm running my department. But I'd remind you I'm enforcing the Immigration Act - the law.' He looked at the phalanx of male figures around him. 'And I'll go on enforcing the law until you bastards agree to change it.'
Somebody said, 'Perhaps you won't have a department tomorrow, chum.'
One of the aides - an air force flight lieutenant this time -appeared at the Prime Minister's side. He announced quietly, 'His Excellency asked me to tell you, sir, that he is withdrawing.'
James Howden glanced towards the outer doorway. The Governor General was smilingly shaking hands with a few of the guests. With Margaret beside him, the Prime Minister moved across. The others melted away.
'I hope you won't mind our retiring early,' the Governor General said. 'Natalie and I are a little tired.'
'I do apologize,' Howden began.
'Don't, my dear fellow. Best if I don't see anything.' The Governor General smiled warmly. 'A most happy Christmas to you, Prime Minister. And to you, Margaret dear.'
With quiet, firm dignity, preceded by an aide as the women guests curtsied and their husbands bowed, their Excellencies withdrew.
Chapter 2
In the car returning from Government House, Margaret asked, 'After what happened tonight, won't Harvey Warrender have to resign?'
'I don't know, dear,' James Howden said thoughtfully. 'He may not want to.'
'Can't you force him?'
He wondered what Margaret would say if he answered truthfully:
No, I can't force Harvey Warrender to resign. And the reason is that somewhere in this city - in a safety deposit box, perhaps - there is a scrap of paper with some handwriting -my own. And if produced and made public, it might just as well be an obituary - or a suicide note from James McCallum Howden.
Instead he answered, 'Harvey has a big following in the party, you know.'
'But surely a following wouldn't excuse what happened tonight.'
He made no answer.
He had never told Margaret about the convention, about the deal that he and Harvey had made nine years ago over the party leadership; the hard-driven deal, with the two of them alone in the small theatrical dressing-room while outside in the big Toronto auditorium their rival factions cheered, awaiting the balloting
This time there were several comments of disapproval from the other guests to whom Warrender's voice had become increasingly audible. Moreover the Governor General had quite plainly heard the last remark and the Prime Minister saw him beckon an aide. Harvey Warrender's wife, a pale, fragile woman, had moved uncertainly towards her husband and taken his arm. But he ignored her.
Dr Borden Tayne, the Health and Welfare Minister and a former college boxing champion who towered above them all, said in a stage whisper, 'For Christ's sake, knock it off!' He had joined Cawston at Warrender's side. A voice murmured urgently, 'Get him out of here!' Another answered, 'He can't go. Nobody can leave until the Governor General does.' Unabashed, Harvey Warrender was continuing. 'When you're talking about immigration,' he declared loudly, 'I tell you the public wants sentiment, not facts. Facts are uncomfortable. People like to think of their country as holding the door open for the poor and suffering. It makes them feel noble. Only thing is, they'd just as soon the poor and suffering keep well out of sight when they get here, and not track lice in the suburbs or muddy up the prissy new churches. No siree, the public in this country doesn't want wide-open immigration. What's more, it knows the Government will never allow it, so there's no real risk in hollering for it. That way, everybody can be righteous and safe at the same time.' . In a separate compartment of his mind the Prime Minister acknowledged that everything Harvey had said made sound sense but impractical politics.
'What started all this?' one of the women asked.
Harvey Warrender heard the remark and answered. 'It started because I was told to change the way I'm running my department. But I'd remind you I'm enforcing the Immigration Act - the law.' He looked at the phalanx of male figures around him. 'And I'll go on enforcing the law until you bastards agree to change it.'
Somebody said, 'Perhaps you won't have a department tomorrow, chum.'
One of the aides - an air force flight lieutenant this time -appeared at the Prime Minister's side. He announced quietly, 'His Excellency asked me to tell you, sir, that he is withdrawing.'
James Howden glanced towards the outer doorway. The Governor General was smilingly shaking hands with a few of the guests. With Margaret beside him, the Prime Minister moved across. The others melted away.
'I hope you won't mind our retiring early,' the Governor General said. 'Natalie and I are a little tired.'
'I do apologize,' Howden began.
'Don't, my dear fellow. Best if I don't see anything.' The Governor General smiled warmly. 'A most happy Christmas to you, Prime Minister. And to you, Margaret dear.'
With quiet, firm dignity, preceded by an aide as the women guests curtsied and their husbands bowed, their Excellencies withdrew.
Chapter 2
In the car returning from Government House, Margaret asked, 'After what happened tonight, won't Harvey Warrender have to resign?'
'I don't know, dear,' James Howden said thoughtfully. 'He may not want to.'
'Can't you force him?'
He wondered what Margaret would say if he answered truthfully:
No, I can't force Harvey Warrender to resign. And the reason is that somewhere in this city - in a safety deposit box, perhaps - there is a scrap of paper with some handwriting -my own. And if produced and made public, it might just as well be an obituary - or a suicide note from James McCallum Howden.
Instead he answered, 'Harvey has a big following in the party, you know.'
'But surely a following wouldn't excuse what happened tonight.'
He made no answer.
He had never told Margaret about the convention, about the deal that he and Harvey had made nine years ago over the party leadership; the hard-driven deal, with the two of them alone in the small theatrical dressing-room while outside in the big Toronto auditorium their rival factions cheered, awaiting the balloting
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