REPLIES TO CARD AND SCHEDULE INQUIRIES. 365
Prevent quotation of one producer against another.—A banker
rives this illustration:

If, as is claimed, the market for copper in Germany is under the control of a
highly organized purchasing syndicate, the American exporter of copper is at
a great disadvantage in securing even a fair price for his product; in fact it is
my belief * * * that the American producer gets a considerably lower price
for copper exported to Germany than for copper sold in this country, due to
the fact that organized buying power is able to quote one producer against
another and gain the full advantage of competitive selling without suffering
the disadvantage of competitive buying.
Could refuse to sell.—An attorney, who is an ex-credit man, suggests
 that export combinations might—
# * * prefusetosell. * * * If a man wants a thing and the seller refuses
Lo sell below a certain price, the man will pay it.
Similarly, a teacher of economics thinks such combinations, might
deal—
* * * jp the same way as the United Shoe Machinery Co. has dealt with
shoe manufacturers. i. e., undertake something in the nature of a trade boycott.
Could withdraw from fields controlled by foreign buyers—A
lawyer who has investments in manufacturing and mercantile corporations
 suggests:
Such organizations could cover more territory than a single producer, and
could, if necessary, seek fields not effectively dominated by such foreign combinations.

Could sell direct to consumer.—This advantage appealed to a
number of respondents. A professor of economics suggests that such
organization might operate successfully—
* * * by organizing local distributing agencies to compete with foreign
huyers’ combinations. .
Similarly, the general manager of a Milwaukee land company
says:
The combination of foreign buyers now absolutely controls the foreign market,
We could, by organizing, have something to say about fixing the price of our
commodities, whereas now we have nothing to say. We could distribute direct
to the foreign consumer.
The same idea appeals to another who imports and exports extensively:

If the American combination, working through its appointed sales agent,
should seek out the ultimate consumer, it should be able to overcome the buyers’
combination, provided, of course, the American manufacturers can make competitive
 prices against those of any foreign set of manufacturers who were
trying to do the same thing as the American combination. and that is break
up the cooperative buyers’ association.
Could maintain adequate prices.—An attorney of wide economic
repute suggests that export organizations could operate more successfully—

* * = Dy establishing fixed prices above the cost of production.
This reply is typical.
Could gather information as to market conditions.—This benefit is
frequently mentioned. An economist puts it thus:

A large, well-organized combination of many firms will be better able to learn
the market conditions of another country than any one firm, however large. A
full knowledge of such conditions makes it possible to know the maximum
price that might be secured.