While working on the German island of Föhr in North Frisia, he joined both the Social Democratic Party and the cigarmakers' union.

Rather than run against Vint (who won re-election) he ran for the Wisconsin State Senate, losing to Democrat Alexander E. Martin by a narrow margin in a five-way race.

After his loss, he relinquished his union and party responsibilities to devote his time to his cigar business, but retained his Socialist and labor zeal.

In 1916 he ran again for the Assembly's 14th Milwaukee County district, losing by 29 votes to Democrat Thomas Szewczykowski.

[6] He served on the State Council of Defense (chairman of its labor committee) during World War I, and on the board of trustees of the Milwaukee County Institutions (1921–1929).