Eddy, Arthur Jerome: The new competition: an examination of the conditions underlying the radical change that is taking place in the commercial and industrial world ; the change from a competitive to a cooperative basis (New York [u.a.], 1912)

GROWTH OF CO-OPERATION

49

of competitors in dull times might close down for the pur-
pose of leaving the “trust” in control of more than 50 per
cent, of the trade; their plea would be they were forced to
shut down by the larger competitor—a sympathetic prose-
cuting officer would quickly institute proceedings.
A great majority of the states have so-called “anti-trust
laws,” which, while aimed at trusts and large combinations,
hit practically all combinations, including partnerships and
labor unions.
More of these laws in detail farther on. Here it is suf-
ficient to say that, in so far as they attempt to check co-
operation, they have proven disastrous rather than bene-
ficial.
Combinations of forces to accomplish the things men
wish to accomplish will continue to be made so long as such
combinations are essential to the economic and speedy
achievement of those objects.
When men cease to desire the things that large co-
operative forces can produce most economically, then, and
not till then, will such large organizations disappear.

VII
There are two distinct cooperative forces at work in
every country.
A. Cooperation to increase production and lower
prices.
B. Cooperation to control production and increase
prices.
The two may, and frequently do, but need not neces-
sarily, come in conflict.