During his tenure as governor, he was responsible for implementing many Progressive Era reforms in the state and put down the Indianapolis streetcar strike of 1913.

Ralston had become popular among the national Democratic Party as an early front-runner for the presidential nomination in 1924, but he dropped out of the race because of his failing health, and died the next year.

In 1865 the Ralston family moved to Owen County, Indiana, where John purchased a large farm and began to raise livestock.

In June he opened a law practice in Lebanon, Indiana, with partner John A. Abbott, there he remained for several years.

Ralston received the endorsement of numerous groups in the state, including the women's suffrage movement and many churches.

The union demanded the passage of a law to better protect what they believed to be their rights and wanted the governor to call a special session of the Indiana General Assembly to pass such a bill.

The strike quickly grew into a citywide riot as the growing mob began to attack police, business leaders, and public officials.

Business leaders and Mayor of Indianapolis Samuel Shank demanded the governor call out the army and end the strike, but the unions threatened violence if that happened.

On November 5 Ralston finally called out the entire Indiana National Guard and put the city under martial law.

At noon on the 6th, the strikers and their sympathizers gathered around the Indiana Statehouse and began chanting a demand that the troops leave the city.

Ralston exited the building and spoke to the crowd offering to withdraw the troops if the strikers would go back to work and negotiate peacefully.

[6][7] When the General Assembly convened, Ralston was able to have several acts passed that led to improved working conditions for many workers in the state.

Among the laws he advocated and passed were acts banning the sale of narcotic drugs for the first time, a minimum wage, conservation measures to prevent deforestation, incentives to encourage development of the livestock industry, free vaccinations for several prevalent diseases, and aid in helping the blind find work.

He successfully lobbied for funds to provide running clean water, children's playgrounds, and several other improvements to the living conditions of the urban poor.

The regulations he enacted on the public utility companies began a process that would take running water and electricity to the entire state.

Through a combination of spending cuts and increased taxation and with the support of the General Assembly, the government was able to pay off the entire state debt and create a $3.76 million surplus fund by the time he left office.

Numerous regiments, totaling more than 130,000 men, were mustered in Indiana and sent overseas in the state's largest deployment since the American Civil War.

The majority of the American forces were at that time in Europe, and Wilson requested Ralston to mobilize a full brigade of Hoosiers to defend the Mexican border.

[10] Historians note that Ralston had one of the most eventful terms in the state's history, and faced more challenges than any governor, except for Oliver Morton.

[11] Ralston won election to the United States Senate from Indiana, defeating Albert Beveridge in November 1922.

Due in part to Ralston's efforts, the anti-Klan plank at the national Democratic convention failed by one vote.