Kendal Hemphill Since 1787, the press has referred to itself as the “Fourth Estate - a bastion of free speech and protector of the first amendment above all else. In your editorial in the October 9th edition, you waxed eloquently about losing writers over the years. You went on to explain how Kendal has gone on to pursue other interests in life making it sound like the absence of his columns in future issues was his idea. Yet the truth of the matter is far different.