sentences:  Together with and , both former contributors to "Viltis", Tumas established the Party of National Progress in 1916, but it became publicly active in early 1917.The party essentially adopted the same ideology as "Viltis" – represent the middle (nationalist) road between socialists and Christian democrats.In February 1917, Tumas was elected to the Council of the Lithuanian Nation, which aspired to become an authoritative body that could represent all Lithuanians and their political objectives.