REPLIES TO CARD AND SCHEDULE INQUIRIES. 341

Some of the replies included in the percentages of the foregoing
paragraphs were qualified, the informant not wishing to commit himself
 to a “yes” or “no” answer.
The fcllowing tale gives in more detail a tabulation of all the
replies:
TABLE IV.—Summary of replies to Commission’s inquiry cards.

Group.

First question.

Affirmtive.


Tega
ara,

Second question.

* firme
tive.

Negative.


Third question.

i
5
=

g
=

Exporters, ete.......
Bomestiy merchants,
lO. cu wnsnasinanny
Publicist, ete.... .
Manufacturers......

wr

3¢
99¢ si) z
'6, 7155, 8 152
Total. ........[5,628'7,¢* -=el-28

 89
37] - 85
89 200
onl 992
- 75 11,428

2. Replies to schedule inquiries,
To make a more detailed study regarding combinations for export
business and conditions in foreign trade, the Commission prepared
brief schedules of questions! These schedules were sent to all who,
in response to question 3 of the cards, indicated that they would aid
the Commission further in its inquiry. Schedules were also sent to a
number who failed to answer the third question, but whose answers
to the other questions indicated interest in the subject.
The schedules were sent to 472 in class 1 (export commission houses,
etc.) ; 832 in class 2 (domestic merchants, importers, etc.) ; 1,767 in
class 8 (publicists, economists, lawyers, etc.) ; and 5,913 in class 4
(manufacturers and producers), making a total of 8,484. Up to and
including January 15, 1916, there had been returned, answered either
as a whole or in part, a total of 2,004 schedules. These replies came
from the several classes just mentioned, in the order named. as follows:
 103, 65, 426, and 1,410.
OPINION OF BUSINESS MEN AS TO LEGALITY OF EXPORT COMBINA-TI0N8.—It
 has been frequently stated that fear of the antitrust laws
prevents cooperative action by American business men for export
business. In order to test this assertion by ascertaining the opinion
of manufacturers as to the application of the law to cooperative organizations
 for export business the Commission headed its schedule
of foreign trade inquiries for manufacturers with the following
question :

Do you believe that the law now prohibits combination or cooperation solely
for export business, not accompanied by oppressive or unfair practices toward
competitors?
(a) Is your belief based on advice of counsel?
(b) Do you understand that the prohibition (if any) is absolute, or applies
only to such combination or cooperation as takes in a preponderant part of a
given industry?
(¢) Do you understand that the prohibition (if any) applies to cooperation
In selling noncompeting products as well as competing products?
-For schedule forms see Exhibit TIL