 He increased the circulation from 2,000 to 20,000.As a supporter of Louis Botha, he became a South African Party member from its creation in 1910 with the formation of the Union of South Africa.He was a South African Freemason.| He was editor of "Die Brandwag" magazine from 1910 until 1922.After the death of Botha in 1919 his loyalty wavered and he joined the National Party in 1925.