)44 REPORT ON COOPERATION IN AMERICAN EXPORT TRADE,

selieved such organizations should include manufacturers of competing
 lines. The majority of those who would confine the membership
 to manufacturers of noncompeting lines only, apparently had in
mind organizations composed of manufacturers of kindred noncompeting
 lines. Those who advocated association with manufacturers
angaged in industries other than iron and steel products were few
‘n number.
The principal form of cooperation in the mind of those proposing
any form of cooperative organization was the joint selling agency.
A number, however, suggested a more comprehensive plan of cooperation
 covering all phases of export business and having to do not only
with the selling end but with the fixing of prices and control of output.
 As a rule those advocating a cooperative organization among
-ompetitors would delegate to such organizations the power to fix
axport prices, and if there should be a selling arrangement that it
should be for the purpose of distribution and handling of the goods
rather than for the actual solicitation of customers. They would
have the manufacturers each individually carry on his own direct
solicitation for new business. Some believe in a joint advertising
agency for competitors.
A number of manufacturers and exporters were of the opinion
that cooperative organizations among producers of finished iron and
steel factory products should be confined to lines noncompeting but
kindred in their character. Several suggested that manufacturers
who were handling competitive lines might combine and form an
organization to handle certain of each competitor’s products that
were kindred but noncompetitive with other lines selected by any
sther of the members. In certain lines, like machinery, it was contended
 that the individual manufacturer specializes in his product
and therefore a joint selling agency would not be effective as the
individual superiority of the particular machine would not be promoted
 primarily as is now done by the individual selling agents of
the several manufacturers.

SECTION 3. TEXTILES,

INTRODUCTION.

Textiles constitute one of the most valuable classes of goods entering
 into international commerce. The United States, as the leading
producer of cotton and one of the largest manufacturers of textile
goods, as a large importer and one of the smallest exporters of such
goods, has a particular interest in textiles in connection with foreign
trade.
The textile industry may be divided into the following eight
branches: (1) Cotton goods; (2) worsted, woolen, and felt goods;
(3) carpets and rugs; (4) hosiery and knit goods; (5) silk #nd silk