Labor party sufficient numbers to defeat the government. However at the last minute Wilson and the leader of the Country Party Francis Willmott persuaded their followers to accept Johnston's nomination as Speaker. Johnston became Speaker on 13 February 1917, and the government were then able to defeat the censure motion by a single vote. Greatly angered by what they saw as a betrayal, the Labor members refused to accept Johnston's authority. When during a heated argument Johnston commanded Labor member John Holman to leave the chamber, Holman refused and a policeman was called to eject him. A number of Labor members then physically prevented Holman's removal. Johnston was forced to suspend the sitting, and the following day he resigned as Speaker, to be replaced by former leader of the Country party James Gardiner. Johnston won his seat as a Country Party candidate in the election of September 1917, and would hold it for the Country Party until 1928. From 1923 until 1928, he was Deputy Leader of the Country Party. Federal politics Johnston resigned his Legislative Assembly seat on 3 October 1928, and on 17 November was elected to the Australian Senate for the federal Country Party. He took up his seat in the Senate on 1 July 1929, and remained a senator until his death in 1942. Personal life On 18 February 1931, Johnston married Hildelith Olymphe King-Lethbridge. He fathered three daughters, one of whom married David Wordsworth, a future member of the Western Australian Legislative Council. Johnston owned a number of hotels in the Perth metropolitan area (including the Captain Stirling Hotel), as well as significant investments in rural Western Australia. On 6 September 1942, he drowned at Black Rock, Melbourne, Victoria. References 1880 births 1942 deaths Deaths by drowning in Australia People educated at Hale School National Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Western Australia Members of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly Members of the Australian Senate for Western Australia Members of the Australian Senate Speakers of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly People from Geraldton Australian Labor Party members of the Parliament of Western Australia 20th-century Australian politicians