Policy: Campaigning in the Plants

Throughout General Electric's 157 U.S. plants last week, volunteers distributed empty envelopes to bosses and workers alike. G.E. is asking each of its 250,000 employees to put at least an hour's pay in the envelopes as a political contribution to the party or candidate of his choice. As Election Day approaches, more U.S. corporations than ever are urging their employees at all levels to give time, money and votes to politics. More than 500 companies—including such giants as Alcoa, Ford, Humble Oil, Equitable Life, U.S. Steel and Westinghouse—now have programs to encourage such participation, and 450 companies have also...