 He was always an activist for Lithuanian causes, being an able lobbyist with the Russians while serving as Chairman of the State Council of Lithuanians in Russia in 1917 when he also founded the Democratic National Freedom League (Santara), a democratic party whose purpose was to restore Lithuania as an independent nation.He was elected its vice-chairman and began publishing weekly issues of "Santara" which he personally funded.The same year he began to organize Lithuania's military scattered throughout the Russian Empire and to publish "Liberty's Officer" for army personnel.