 He was a delegate to the 1896, 1904, 1912, 1916, 1920, 1924, 1928, 1932, 1936, 1940 and 1944 Democratic National Conventions.In 1898 and 1900, he ran for New York State Attorney General but was defeated twice by Republican John C. Davies.He was Lieutenant Governor of New York from 1911 to 1912, elected on the Democratic ticket with Governor John Alden Dix in 1910.