The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-12-02
AMERICAN GIRL
TO CHINA POST
Viola Smith Is Named as
Assistant to Trade
Commissioner

SHANGHAI-Miss Viola smith, O
young woman from California, who
has served az clerk to the United
states Trade Commlesioner in CHINA
for the pact two years, has been APP
pointed Assistant Trade commits.
sioner In the United states Depart
mcut Of Commerce. thereby win
ming tho distinction OF being the
first American oma 10 hold this
office.
when Miss Smith. backed by the
United states Trade commissioner
and tho United States Commercial
lattache In shanghai. applied for per
mission to take fhc examinations for
Nshe office she bumped into a stone
vail OF opposition. No woman had
ever held the post NJ United states
Assistant Trade Commissioner! How
ever. Miss Smith was undaunted and
made a second application for per-
mission to take the examinations,
which. II she passed. would cur
her appointment. Because Of her
splendid work In government serv-
ice and the recommendations OF her
chiefs in Shanghai the questions
were forwarded here from Washing
ton.
Made High Marks.
Miss Smith came Though with
colors flying, and her appointment
Ms the first woman assistant trade
commissioner was cabled to the Of
flee Of the Commercial Attache al
Shanghai.
The young Is well quail
Sed to iii this office. an. she has
made u careful study of exports and
imports during the last seven years.
Part OF this dine she spent In uni
vcrsities In study and part in prsc-
teal work In large import and eX-
port firms in America.
Miss Smith, who comes from Cali
furnia. Is a graduate OF the Wash
ington College Of Law. Following
her college work she was employed
by the United states Department OF
Labor at Washington, ID. c. After
three years OF war work YIN this de-
partment che was appointed conf
DENTAL clerk to the assistant secre.
tary of labor and in 1918 as as
sistant to the Chief OF Woman's Di-
vision United States Employment
Service.
Two years ago Miss Smith came
to China In the United states De-
partmert Of Commerce, and during
mis- time she made a study of
trade promotion work I'm all its ram
ifications. She had found her work
fascinating and reveled In the trade
problems which the average m
would find OF little interest and
w~hlch~would stump many men.
His Much Trade Data.
She has investigated the oppor-
tunities for American trade along
many lines and can supply informa-
ton as to whether China Ia in the
market for sewing machines, baby
buggies, plows. airplanes. cotton
mills or pianos.
During the winter Miss Smith
made a survey of the building boom
now taking place In Shanghai and
compiled statistics OF value to the
local business firms. Along this
line Miss Smith declares that, aside
from securing actual building con-
tracts, American capital should find
an excellent opportunity for invest
ment In projects such as new hotels.
steel and sash factories, door and
planning. mills. brick and the, tile
works. plumbing supplies and heat
ing and ventilating equipment
Miss Smith believes that more
courses In foreign trade, with stress
laid on imports and exports and
exchange, should be given in the
colleges and universities OF America
and that these courses should be
open 10 their fair goods. Accord
ing TO Miss Smith, foreign trade Is
a new field for women, and she be-
lieves that other women would find
the work as full OF interest as she
does,