 He was Attorney-General in Lyne's ministry front September 1899 to March 1901.But as a candidate for the Federal House of Representatives rural seat of Canobolas, though really a convinced freetrader, he was labelled a protectionist on account of his association with Lyne and Barton, and he was seen as a "city" barrister.A freetrader gained the seat, and Wise was lost to federal politics.