Evening star., 1914-12-28
.LOBERT ISSUES Def.
Says 1t IsUp to PhilIies to De-
eide His Future.
HAD CONFABS WITH FEDS
Was Loyal During Life of Three
Year Contract-Considers
Himself Free.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
PHILADELPHIA, December 2s.-"Ho-
nus Lobert may play base ball witt
the Phillies in 1915, but at this writing
| it doesn't look as if he will.
| Il would like to remain here and play
with the Phillies," said Lobert today
and whether I remain here depends
| entirely on the management of the
! club. 1 have talked over the situation
with President Baker and Vice Presi-
| dent Chandler 1 have given the Phil
lies first chance; they know every
move that I have made so far, and
will have another talk with the club
officials before 1 do anything"
| Lobert arrived here yesterday from
Chicago, where he had a conference
with President Gilmore of the Federal
+, League and President Weeghmann of
the Chicago Federals. The day pre-
vlous to the Chicago conference Lobert
met Phil Ball and Otto Stiefel, owners
OF the St Louis Federal League club, in
st. Louis, at their leQuest. Stiefel and
Ball made Lobert a proposition to play
third base for the "Sloufeds'' for the
next three years, and Lobert took the
offer under advisement. His talk with
Gilmore and Weeghmann was on the
st. Louis proposition.
They. are all very fine gentlemen"
said Lobert today. "They couldn't have
treated me better. They made me an
offer that looks too good to refuse. l
had three-year contract with the
Philadelphia club which expired this
fall. During the life of that contract
l did not talk with Federal League
manager or owner. Several have tried
to talk with me. but l simply told them
that / was under contract with the
Phillies and would not talk business
with any one else until that contract
expired.
1T has expired now and I am willing
to talk business. No club has a claim
on my services for next year. did not
receive any money for any option on
my services for 1915. OF course in or
ganized base ball I would be reserved
by the Philadelphia club and prevented
from playing anywhere else. SO 1 took
up the matter with Mr.. Baker. l have
given the Phillies my best services
during the time 1 have been with them.
I do not think any one will care to
question this. 1 think l am worth
more money than 1 have been receiv-
ing from the Phillies, and in these war
times it is up to every one to take care
of himself. If the Phillies cannot do
| suppose l will case my lot with the
Federals. My home is here. my friends
are all here, and / have been treated
royalty by, Philadelphians. and / will
Philadelphia club will make the in
ducements anywhere near satisfactory.
Il do not intend to do anything in a
hurry. l do not intend to do anything
that l will regret later, but I do not
think any one can blame me for look
ing out for myself. That is what every
one else is doing in base ball, and in
every other walk of life. My propo-
sition to the Phillies is not an exorbi-
tant one. and 1 feel sure that we will
be able to get together on it, The
thing should be decided one way or
another in another week.
'McGraw did not go to Chicago after
me as some of the papers intimated. l
met McGraW quite by accident. He was
in Chicago advising his friends, Col.
Rupert and Capt. Huston. about the
proposed purchase Of the New York
American League Club. When McGraW
learned that 1 had been talking with
Federal League people he asked me to
hold off until he got in touch with Mr..
Baker and see if he couldn't make
deal whereby 1 could play with New
York. I told him 1 didn't think this
would do any good, because Mr.. Baker
tampering with some of his players.
That is all the conversation that had
with McGraw."
Lobert would not say how much
money the st. Louis Federal League
club offered him to play with that club
There is no question but that McGraw
would like to obtain Lobert for the
Giants. McGraw is great personal
friend and admirer of Lobert, and he
also needs a third baseman. McGraw
offered cash and players recently to the
Phillies for Lobert, and the Phillies
turned down the offer. There is a feel
ing around the Phillies' office that If
Lobert can do better with the Feds
than with the Phillies. that it would be
best for him to jump.
If he does, the Phillies will rue the
day. He will leave an even bigger gap
to fill than was made when Mike"
Doolan left. Doolan's place is still va
cant. A half dozen players have tried
the position, and now minor Lacquer
has been purchased for cash and four
players. And Doolan could have been
retained for $1,000. Doolan's loss
wrecked the Phillies. Seatons loss
helped. The absence of Lobert would
push the team down even further in
the race.