from 1905 to 1911 he was prosecuting attorney of lyman county. from 1911 until 1921 he served as court circuit judge for the 11th judicial district from march 1921 to march 1933 he was elected as a republican to congress (five succeeding terms). in 1912 he was a delegate to the republican national convention and served as chairman on the committee on expenditures in the department of the interior for the 68th and 69th congresses; and committee on expenditures in executive departments for the 70th and 71st congresses;