In Salmi, he was active in social life and was nicknamed the “Emperor of Salmi”. Seise was a handyman at a local youth club and school project, among other things. After the outbreak of the Finnish Civil War, in January 1918 he founded the Salmi White Guard and also serving as its chief of staff. Two years later, despite his blindness, Seise was involved in the Aunus expedition and was also part of the Aunus interim administration that ruled the area. Seise's daughter's husband was Ragnar Nordström, a shipowner who had taken part in the Aunus expedition.