American Jewry is desperately afraid of opening a single seam in its armor by means of a single investigation or reform. They are afraid of how far the fire of self-correction may spread.
It was the intention of The Dearborn Independent to give in this article a sample of the manner in which Jewish jazz is written in three classes—No. 1 for general consumption; No. 2 for stage consumption; No. 3 for the lowest resorts. On searching through the songs for the least offensive example it is found that even the least offensive cannot be printed here. The fact is greatly regretted, for certainly some method must be found by which the public can be put into possession of full information as to what is transpiring in this hideous traffic.
The Jewish art of “camouflage” (the reader may not be aware that wartime camouflage was a Jewish invention) has always been operative. “Cover names”, “cover nationalities” (these are Jewish terms) have long been known. It is quite common for Jews of the higher type to band themselves together into societies for political and racial purposes, the purposes being camouflaged by a name, such as Geological Society, or Scientific Society, or something of the sort. And thus in the vilest versification, which only a few years ago would have been refused the mails, they have flung broadcast among the youth of the world dangerous ideas under the camouflage of catchy tunes.
The tunes themselves carry a tale with them. There have been cases in the courts dealing with the “adaptation,” or stealing, of tunes for “popular song” purposes. If you observe carefully you will catch reminiscent strains in many of the popular songs which you sing. If you sing, “Rocked in the Cradle of the Deep,” and then sing, “I’m Always Chasing Rainbows,” you will notice a basic resemblance; but that does not prove that “Rocked in the Cradle of the Deep” is itself original, its melody was originally taken from an Opus of Chopin. This is a practice which has been greatly extended of recent years.