BEPLIES TO CARD AND SCHEDULE INQUIRIES. 889
A partner of a company dealing in broad silks thinks that the
combination—
¢ * * gshould not be restricted to noncompeting products, as it is difficult,
probably impossible—in textiles, for instance—to differentiate between noncompeting
 and competing products, and well-nigh impossible to organize combinations
 which will not at sometime or other handle products somehow or other
competing.

One product makes ” for the shortcomings of the other—A
dealer in sweaters and athletic specialties contributes the following:
Both competing and noncompeting products should be freely admitted because
no one house can cover it all, and the very essence of cooperation is that
each makes up’ for the shortcomings of the other. If orders come piling in,
give several competing plants an opportunity to share, instead of pushing one
plant to the breaking point. A sudden slackening of the demand would not
then be felt as acutely as in a.case where all the business is centralized in
pne plant.

Restriction would tend to give some manufacturers greater advantages
 than others.—An officer of an export establishment, who has
spent his entire commercial career in selling export goods for American
 manufacturers, presents this line of reasoning:

In view of the fact there are more manufacturers in some lines than in
others, I dc not believe it would be well to restrict to trade in noncompeting
products, for this would tend to give one manufacturer an advantage over
another. The demand in a certain line might be such as to require more than
the output of one factory to handle the business, and if restricted to noncompeting
 manufacturers, the trade might fall into the hands of a few, due to the
fact that some manufacturers could not join such organization, being prevented
from doing so by the fact that one of their competitors might already have been
in each such organization.

Good salesmen would be developed.—A New York exporter of
many years’ experience says:
We think that, to be of value, the export combinations should cover competing
 products, as by that method a much larger volume of business could
be done, for the reason that it would require a relatively larger sales force
for each combination to handle a wide variety of products; the best salesmen
are those who specialize along certain lines, and in order to secure high-class
men. it would be necessary to offer a large volume of commodities to sell

Would tend to create greater efficiency.—In expressing his ideas
on this question, a summer clothing manufacturer says:
The trade should not be restricted in any form whatever, either in competing
or noncompeting products. It should be a survival of the fittest. It will tend
lo create greater efficiency amongst those who are backward in competition.
Freedom of action is necessary in business.—A professor of South
American history replies:
I do not believe such export combinations should be restricted to trade in
noncompeting products, but that each combination should be allowed to make
its own rules. I believe that this would be best because too much supervision
and regulation will hamper us along lines where the greatest freedom of action
8 necessary in order to meet new and unforeseen contingencies.

The problem of monopolistic control a factor—A member of a
large exporting house with many years’ experience writes:
Combinations should be allowed for both competing and noncompeting prodacts
 (although the former is not likely to occur) so long as no monopoly or
control of a product is created.