374 REPORT ON COOPERATION IN AMERICAN EXPORT TRADE.
A manufacturer of wire nails and tacks, exporting a very small
proportion of his product, wrote:

The larger percentage of manufactured commodities in this country which
are exported, the more stable our domestic business will become, and one of
the most serious features of the present industrial situation is the rapid and
wide fluctuation in general business conditions,
An Ohio editor wrote:

Breadth is prerequisite to stability; and broadened markets are the primary
step toward ultimate stability in the demand for labor, capital, and commodities,
 just as wider international sympathies are the first stride toward that
cosmopolitan attitude of mind that imparts steadiness to social progress and
Armness to political ideals.

Effect on prices—A group of about 150 replies has to do with
the effect of export combinations on prices, foreign and domestic.
About 100 thought that such combinations are in the public interest
 because thereby prices would be regulated, maintained, standardized,
 etc.; better prices could be secured and fluctuations prevented
 ; and combinations would hold up export prices and prevent
American manufacturers from dumping their over production. This
last reason was given by a number of lumber manufacturers. About
50, on the other hand, thought that combinations by increased production
 and cheapened costs would effect a reduction of prices both
foreign and domestic and thereby make increased sales possible.
Thus a manufacturer of industrial railway equipment wrote:

Such combinations would be of much advantage on account of a uniform
selling price being maintained, based on average cost of production plus a
legitimate profit. Under present conditions the practice seems to be to sell to
foreign markets at 5 to 10 per cent less than the home market,
A large western lumber exporter wrote:

It is without doubt to the interest of America that she receive the largest
returns from her resources; her products of the forest and soil are her greatest
resources, and her manufactures are made with those products; therefore, for
shipment to foreign countries let producers and manufacturers sell without
competition through a common selling agency at a fixed price that shows a
reasonable profit, instead of cutting each others’ throats and often selling
below cost of manufacture; namely, giving the benefit of America’s natural
resources to the foreign buyer.
A large manufacturer of reinforcing steel wrote:

Under the cooperative plan, our producers of the large staple lines would
benefit by pooling the expenses of securing export business and standing
together in the matter of selling prices, so as to secure the highest prices consistent
 with conditions of competition in each territory. Such an arrangement
would render the business secured at a given price far more profitable, on
account of the market reduction in the overhead expenses. It would further
insure higher prices being obtained in many cases, since prices would be made
by the centralized selling organization with a view to meeting foreign competition
 only.

A manufacturer of interior conduits, exporting 4 per cent of his
product, wrote:

1 think that such cooperative organizations or combinations would be in the
public interest, for the reason that the increase in the business would ultimately
 lead to reduced cost and to a lower price to the public in this country.
A large manufacturer of canned goods, exporting 10 per cent of
his product, wrote:
If foreign business can be secured by cooperation it will enable those
Interested in it to produce in larger volume and consequently reduce overhead