REPLIES TO CARD AND SCHEDULE INQUIRIES, 361

In addition, an association should be better able to meet foreign competition,
hecause it will be in a better position to know what its competitors are doing
than can individual concerns, unless they be very large themselves. '
Ability to buy and sell in best market and avoid others—From a
professor of economics comes this suggestion:
Each organization * * * would be able to take advantage of the most
favorable opportunities to sell or buy, thus saving by buying or selling better;
lo neutralize, partially at least, the effect of * dumping ” by avoiding the market
in which the dumping was taking place.
Ability to meet prices—A farmer and publisher declares:
They would be in possession of the prevailing prices abroad and by the cooperative
 plan would largely cut the cost of production to meet the competition.

Better facilities for display and introduction of goods.—A gentle~
man who has studied conditions in Mexico writes:
Speaking broadly, it is my opinion that American products generally (except
[n textiles) are superior to foreign-made goods in quality and attractiveness.
What is needed is display and introduction.
Lessening American competition abroad.—A professor of political
economy believes export combinations could aid—
By moderating competition among American producers in the foreign market
and making more aggressive their combined competition against foreign producers.

Prevent dumping in United States—From an official of the Carnegie
 companies comes this idea:
It is also quite possible for such combinations to prevent the * dumping” of
foreign products in the United States by announcing to the concern attempting
such action, that any such move on their part will be met by an invasion of their
home or foreign markets at prices that will preclude the possibility of their
selling in same.
Could overcome foreign combinations.—An exporter writes:

Foreign sales combinations having a knowledge of the money power behind
an American sales organization of any consequence would hesitate to adopt
the highly aggressive tactics toward them that they might in driving individual
 Amnerican manufacturers from a market. The tendency * * * would
pe toward profitable cooperation instead of prolonged and unprofitable trade
warfare,
General—A director of the North American Fruit Exchange
~rites

Unless and until American exporters are allowed to combine in standardizing
methods and, in some instances, prices, and to reduce the initial expense of
entering new markets by establishing joint agencies abroad, they will be at a
distinct disadvantage in competing with European countries. * * * Apart
from the pains our competitors take to give their foreign customers what they
want in quality, and especially in packing, they have a distinct advantage in
their methods of financing their business.

An ex-governor of New Mexico, who was formerly second secretary
of the United States Embassy at Petrograd, says in regard to observations
 made during his three years’ residence in Russia:
From such observations I should say unhesitatingly that some sort of copperative
 organizations among American manufacturers for export business
would not only be wise, but that, in order to secure our share of foreign trade,
especially in Russia, Manchuria, China, Japan, and the Far East generally,
such organizations are absolutely essential. Our competitors in that trade,