 He was 
admitted to the bar in 1884 and commenced practice in St. Paul, Minnesota.Stevens was a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives 1888 – 1891; elected as a Republican to the 55th, 56th, 57th, 58th, 59th, 60th, 61st, 62nd, and 63rd congresses, (March 4, 1897 – March 3, 1915).In 1914, he was the principal Republican spokesman in the House of Representatives for the bill that ultimately was enacted as the Federal Trade Commission Act.