He generally held moderately conservative views, believed in fiscal responsibility and balanced budgets, and felt strongly that agriculture was the foundation of France's prosperity.

[1] Henry Chéron worked as a technician in a pharmacy to earn money to attend law school.

Chéron ran for election as deputy for Calvados on four occasions in 1893, 1896, 1898 and 1902, but although his views were moderate he was not sufficiently conservative for the electorate.

[2] Chéron was an honorary president of the French consultative committee to the first International Eugenics Conference in London in 1912.

Chéron appointed a commission to prepare a law on regulating savings companies to protect small savers.

On 23 December 1916 he led the Senate to adopt a motion letting the Briand government place the entire war effort under one organization.

He also submitted proposals to reduce the social costs of the war, on topics such as rents, leases and taxation of food.

Chéron saw agriculture as the foundation for prosperity and a balanced budget, and wanted to make France self-sufficient in food.

He was involved in programs for agricultural education, marketing, insurance and social welfare, and laws to prevent fragmentation of farm properties.

He defended the bill to legalize the Caisse d'amortissement (Sinking Fund) to amortize public debt, and projects to increase tax revenues and stabilize the franc.

[8] In an effort to boost the economy, particularly agriculture, he continued the policy of fiscal consolidation through maintaining a balanced budget without increasing taxes.

[2] While Chéron was in office the market was troubled by the scandal of Marthe Hanau's Gazette du Franc.

He wrote the decree of 17 February 1930 on the administrative and financial organization of municipal utilities, and participation of communes in private companies.

Chéron was criticized for retaining his portfolio under Tardieu and giving support to a policy of relief that he had previously condemned.

[9] On 17 November 1930 Tardieu appointed Chéron Minister of Justice to replace Raoul Péret, who was involved in the affair of the criminal bankruptcy of the banker Albert Oustric.

[2] On 24 December 1930 he sent a circular to all general prosecutors in France, urging them to take the lead in prosecutions, regardless of who was involved, and not to ask for prior approval from the Ministry.

[10] Chéron set up a committee under Charles Farnier, assistant governor of the Banque de France, to dispel alarmist rumors about the 1933 budget deficit.

[9] Chéron accepted the position of Minister of Justice in the cabinet formed by Gaston Doumergue after 6 February 1934.

[2] In March 1934 Chéron submitted a bill that barred naturalized citizens from certain occupations for a period after they had obtained citizenship.

While worrying about the effect the revelations would have on the government, he had to deal with constant questions from a 44-member parliamentary commission of inquiry which continued throughout his term of office.

Le Cri du Jour said Chéron must resign and action must be taken on these cases or Mandel would bring down Doumerge's government.

[18] A more sympathetic author, writing of Chéron in 1931, described him as a huge, jovial figure, full of energy, a gourmand with an enormous appetite.