he was elected in 1924 in a by-election in the riding of toronto northwest. he defeated his only opponent, j.a. young of the labor party by 5,997 votes. pundits remarked that the voter turnout was unusually light with less than 10,000 votes cast. he was re-elected in the 1926 provincial election in the newly created riding of bellwoods. he defeated arthur frost of the labour-prohibitionist party by 4,622 votes. he declined to run in the 1929 election.